“My sons have been supportive of my cre-
ative efforts from their early years to this day. They are all talented in various arts, music and other media. They have been a great help to be able to ask, ‘What do you think of this?’ And to know good honest feedback will come from their perspectives. “While I was in art school they were doing
photography, sculpture, drawings, music and paintings, and, to my displeasure, they were writing SAMO graffi ti with Jean Michael Bas- quiat. He was a school chum of my son Shan- non and spent lots of time in our home draw- ing and hanging out. He was fond of my pens and often used them without permission.” In spite of the urban background, Bonita is
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Celebrating 45 years
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also in touch with reservation life. Her photo collage Stalled captures a common Rez phe- nomenon with a measure of humor. “The series is based on an actual event,” she says. “It was in the hot Badlands of South Dakota. A friend and I were going to the Rosebud reser- vation when the car broke down. “I decided this was a good photo op. It was not unique to me. Most Natives experi- ence car breakdowns, rattle snakes, coyotes, etc. The situation was familiar, and I found humor in it. There were no other cars com- ing along. If he had not possessed mechanical skills, we could not have traveled further. The objects painted on the photos were just from imagination. If you are in a bad situation you better have an imagination.” In addition to being a recognized visual
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artist, Pena Bonita is also a published writer of short stories, poetry and non-fi ction as well as a founding member of the American In- dian Writers Workshop. She has contributed numerous pieces to TALKING STICK Native Arts Quarterly. In 2004 she was a recipient of the National Foundation Book Award for her short story, “Lotto Baby.” In spite of her accomplishments, Bonita
is low key in many ways, and does not boast. Nadema Agard (Cherokee/Lakota/Powhatan), director of Red Earth Studio Consulting/Pro- ductions in New York City has been a friend for 30 years and has included Bonita’s work in most of the exhibitions she has curated. “Pena is always innovative,” Agard says. “Pena is always different and new. She is not stuck in a particular style or format. Her work is visu- ally layered with multiple meanings. She never ceases to amaze me.” X
Dr. Phoebe Mills Farris (Powhatan-Renape/Pamunkey) is professor emerita at Purdue University. She is editor of the books Voices of Color: Art and Society in the Americas and Women Artists of Color: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists in the Americas.
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